EastEnders fans strongly predict Max Branning’s flash-forward bride after voting in thousands

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EastEnders viewers have overwhelmingly chosen their favorite to marry Max Branning, with thousands participating in a recent vote.

The BBC One soap opera recently showed a glimpse into the future, revealing that resident womanizer Max (played by Jake Wood) will be getting married on New Year’s Day in 2027 – but the identity of his bride remains a secret.

After the police questioned Max, Jack Branning called the woman he believed to be his future bride, and the episode showed four potential candidates for the role.

The four suspects were Chelsea Fox, played by Zaraah Abrahams, Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright, Cindy Beale, played by Michelle Collins, and Denise Fox, played by Diane Parish, who did not appear in this episode.

But this doesn’t mean these are the only options. Other women who currently live in Walford, like Priya Nandra-Hart and Zoe Slater, could be involved. Or it could be someone from the past, such as Max’s ex-wife Tanya Cross or his former lover Stacey Slater.

Chelsea and Max haven’t dated before, but recent episodes showed Chelsea developing feelings for him. She’s previously had relationships with his brother and her soon-to-be stepfather, Jack.

The episode revealed that Chelsea’s sister, Libby Fox, played by Belinda Owusu, returned to Walford on the day of the wedding.

Stacey Slater came in second, but actress Lacey Turner is currently on leave from the show and living in Brazil. Despite this, Jake Wood previously hinted that Stacey was Max Branning’s one true love.

Coming in third was Max’s ex-partner and the mother of his child, Annie (also known as Lois Hawkins), followed closely by viewers who think the bride isn’t any of the main suspects – they chose the ‘Someone else’ option.

Cindy Beale, Max’s recent partner and also a parent with problematic behavior, came in fifth. Denise Fox just beat Tanya Branning for sixth place, and Tanya took seventh.

Zoe Slater, Max’s ex-girlfriend, finished in eighth place, while Priya Nandra-Hart—who Max exchanged a look with on New Year’s Eve—came in last.

The full results of the poll are below.

  1. Chelsea Fox – 27
  2. Stacey Slater – 14
  3. Linda Carter – 13
  4. Someone else – 12
  5. Cindy Beale – 11
  6. Denise Fox – 8
  7. Tanya Cross – 8
  8. Zoe Slater – 5
  9. Priya Nandra-Hart – 3

It remains to be seen who Max will ultimately choose, and whether either he or his new partner is trustworthy.

“We know what’s changing,” revealed executive producer Ben Wadey in December.

We anticipated some disruptions to relationships, so we’ve been closely monitoring the situation. It’s been difficult to manage both these smaller issues and the major, important aspects of everything, but we’re working to ensure everything is stable.

Also, pay attention to what isn’t shown in the episode and the things that are missing – there are likely some hints hidden in those gaps.

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Authors

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis is the News and Trends Editor at TopMob, guiding our coverage of current events, quickly responding to trending topics, and ensuring we deliver content that our audience wants. He’s a huge fan of TV and movies, especially Nicole Kidman, but also loves science fiction, independent films, and the newest shows on HBO. With a background in Psychology and a Masters degree in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community engagement, search engine optimization, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2026-01-05 17:05